THE COMMONWEALTH WAR GRAVES MEMORIAL AT GLASNEVIN CEMETERY
THE COMMONWEALTH WAR GRAVES MEMORIAL AT GLASNEVIN CEMETERY [PHOTOGRAPHED SEPTEMBER 2025]
I decided to include photographs of the individual memorial plaques in order to provide a complete overview of the memorial.
The commemoration of the 207 service members of the British Armed Forces buried in Glasnevin Cemetery has elicited both positive and negative reactions, reflecting the complex historical relationship between Ireland and Britain.
The Designer of the Memorial
The primary memorial to the Commonwealth war dead in Glasnevin Cemetery is the Cross of Sacrifice. This is not a unique, site-specific design but a standard, iconic feature used by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) in its cemeteries and plots around the world.
The designer of the Cross of Sacrifice was Sir Reginald Blomfield.
Sir Reginald Blomfield (1856–1942) was a prolific and respected British architect and garden designer.
Following World War 1, he was appointed as one of the three principal architects for the Imperial War Graves Commission (now the CWGC), alongside Sir Edwin Lutyens and Sir Herbert Baker.
Blomfield's brief was to create a memorial that was non-denominational and would honour all service members equally, regardless of rank.
His design, the Cross of Sacrifice, is a freestanding Christian cross, typically carved from Portland stone. It features a bronze longsword, blade down, superimposed upon its face. The design was intended to represent the faith of the majority of the fallen and the military character of the cemetery.
Its standardised design ensures that the graves of Commonwealth service members are immediately recognisable in any of the thousands of locations where they are buried, from France to Dublin, creating a consistent and universal symbol of remembrance.
Therefore, the Cross of Sacrifice in Glasnevin, unveiled in 2014, was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield as part of his foundational work for the CWGC in the aftermath of World War 1.
Positive Reactions
The primary positive reaction centres on themes of reconciliation, inclusivity, and historical maturity.
Shared Remembrance: Supporters view the commemoration as a vital act of remembrance for all Irish people who died in the World Wars, regardless of the uniform they wore. It's seen as an acknowledgment that the Irish experience of these wars was diverse and complex. Many of the men and women who served did so for economic reasons or a sense of adventure, and their service is considered part of the multifaceted Irish story.
Reconciliation: The memorials, particularly the Cross of Sacrifice unveiled in 2014, are hailed as powerful symbols of the modern, peaceful relationship between Ireland and the United Kingdom. The joint presence of Irish and British officials at commemorative events is seen as a sign of mutual respect and a step away from historical animosities.
Historical Accuracy: Proponents argue that remembering these soldiers is a matter of historical accuracy. For decades, the story of Irishmen in the British Army was largely overlooked or suppressed in the official narrative of the Irish state. Commemorating them is viewed as restoring a "lost" or "forgotten" chapter of Irish history to public consciousness.
Negative Reactions
Negative reactions are rooted in Ireland's long and often painful struggle for independence from British rule.
Symbol of Imperialism: For some, particularly those with strong republican or nationalist views, the British uniform is an unshakeable symbol of oppression and colonialism. They see the commemoration of soldiers who fought for the British Empire on the soil of a national cemetery as inappropriate and offensive to the memory of those who fought and died for Irish freedom.
Location Controversy: A significant point of contention is the location within Glasnevin Cemetery, which is the final resting place of many key figures from the Irish revolutionary period, including Michael Collins, Charles Stewart Parnell, and O'Donovan Rossa. Critics argue that honouring soldiers of the British Crown in such close proximity to Irish patriots is a profound contradiction and a dishonour to the latter's legacy.
Timing and Politics: Some have viewed the commemorative acts, especially those involving state participation, as politically motivated attempts to normalise British influence and dilute the memory of Ireland's fight for sovereignty. They argue it risks creating a false equivalence between the "oppressor and the oppressed." This viewpoint sees the soldiers not as individuals but as representatives of a state that inflicted great suffering on Ireland.
I decided to include photographs of the individual memorial plaques in order to provide a complete overview of the memorial.
The commemoration of the 207 service members of the British Armed Forces buried in Glasnevin Cemetery has elicited both positive and negative reactions, reflecting the complex historical relationship between Ireland and Britain.
The Designer of the Memorial
The primary memorial to the Commonwealth war dead in Glasnevin Cemetery is the Cross of Sacrifice. This is not a unique, site-specific design but a standard, iconic feature used by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) in its cemeteries and plots around the world.
The designer of the Cross of Sacrifice was Sir Reginald Blomfield.
Sir Reginald Blomfield (1856–1942) was a prolific and respected British architect and garden designer.
Following World War 1, he was appointed as one of the three principal architects for the Imperial War Graves Commission (now the CWGC), alongside Sir Edwin Lutyens and Sir Herbert Baker.
Blomfield's brief was to create a memorial that was non-denominational and would honour all service members equally, regardless of rank.
His design, the Cross of Sacrifice, is a freestanding Christian cross, typically carved from Portland stone. It features a bronze longsword, blade down, superimposed upon its face. The design was intended to represent the faith of the majority of the fallen and the military character of the cemetery.
Its standardised design ensures that the graves of Commonwealth service members are immediately recognisable in any of the thousands of locations where they are buried, from France to Dublin, creating a consistent and universal symbol of remembrance.
Therefore, the Cross of Sacrifice in Glasnevin, unveiled in 2014, was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield as part of his foundational work for the CWGC in the aftermath of World War 1.
Positive Reactions
The primary positive reaction centres on themes of reconciliation, inclusivity, and historical maturity.
Shared Remembrance: Supporters view the commemoration as a vital act of remembrance for all Irish people who died in the World Wars, regardless of the uniform they wore. It's seen as an acknowledgment that the Irish experience of these wars was diverse and complex. Many of the men and women who served did so for economic reasons or a sense of adventure, and their service is considered part of the multifaceted Irish story.
Reconciliation: The memorials, particularly the Cross of Sacrifice unveiled in 2014, are hailed as powerful symbols of the modern, peaceful relationship between Ireland and the United Kingdom. The joint presence of Irish and British officials at commemorative events is seen as a sign of mutual respect and a step away from historical animosities.
Historical Accuracy: Proponents argue that remembering these soldiers is a matter of historical accuracy. For decades, the story of Irishmen in the British Army was largely overlooked or suppressed in the official narrative of the Irish state. Commemorating them is viewed as restoring a "lost" or "forgotten" chapter of Irish history to public consciousness.
Negative Reactions
Negative reactions are rooted in Ireland's long and often painful struggle for independence from British rule.
Symbol of Imperialism: For some, particularly those with strong republican or nationalist views, the British uniform is an unshakeable symbol of oppression and colonialism. They see the commemoration of soldiers who fought for the British Empire on the soil of a national cemetery as inappropriate and offensive to the memory of those who fought and died for Irish freedom.
Location Controversy: A significant point of contention is the location within Glasnevin Cemetery, which is the final resting place of many key figures from the Irish revolutionary period, including Michael Collins, Charles Stewart Parnell, and O'Donovan Rossa. Critics argue that honouring soldiers of the British Crown in such close proximity to Irish patriots is a profound contradiction and a dishonour to the latter's legacy.
Timing and Politics: Some have viewed the commemorative acts, especially those involving state participation, as politically motivated attempts to normalise British influence and dilute the memory of Ireland's fight for sovereignty. They argue it risks creating a false equivalence between the "oppressor and the oppressed." This viewpoint sees the soldiers not as individuals but as representatives of a state that inflicted great suffering on Ireland.